PEMBROKE – Russell Clark, a current school record holder in the high jump, and Chris Little, one of only three men's soccer players to have more than 20 goals and 20 assists in his career, have been named the 76th and 77th members of the UNC Pembroke Athletic Hall of Fame.
A two-time all-American in 1984 and 1985, Clark, an Ansonville native, recorded his personal best mark of 2.185m in the high jump in 1986. As a field athlete, he was a two-time NAIA all-district selection and four-time all-Carolinas Conference honoree that helped the Braves amass four-consecutive Carolina Conference Championships from 1983-1986. He also helped the Brave to the NAIA District 26 Championship along with two runner-up finishes, while also helping the squad to 12th and 14th place finishes at the NAIA National Championships, and 36th and 50th place finishes at the NCAA Division II National Championships.
"It was definitely breathtaking when I got the news from Chancellor Carter," Clark said. "It was a great moment to hear my name and UNCP Hall of Fame mentioned in the same sentence. I think I screamed, laughed and cried at the same time after I hung up the phone."
Clark was a journalism major that volunteered his time as a public address announcer for the Sports Information Office, was active member of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and also served as the SGA entertainment chairperson from 1984-86. He exemplified a strong work ethic, leadership, school pride and determination both on and off the track to his fellow teammates.
After graduating from UNCP with his bachelor's degree in 1986, Clark embarked on his first coaching opportunity as head track & field/cross country coach at Johnson C. Smith in 1987. Following his time as head coach, he enlisted in the army as a combat journalist and was a member of the All-Army Track & Field Team.
While stationed in Berlin, Germany in 1991, he earned the high jump title at both the Indoor European Championships and the USAEUR Championships. He was also a two-time Armed Forces Champion and a member of the 1991 World Military Champion Track & Field team.
After his military career, Clark devoted his time and energy to his community by assisting families to become homeowners in order to stimulate the local economy, and gained national attention with his motivational seminars designed to transform individuals into successful homeowners and investors. He has been a featured presenter at the Nike Speed Elite Coaches Summit, while also serving as president of DADS FOR EDUCATION. Clark has mentored several high school champions that have had continued success in professional sports as well.
Currently, he is a Military Employment and Business Development Coach in the Valley of the Sun and has been a Servant-Leader for Veteran with USA Cares and the National Association of Black Veterans. He is also an advocate for helping to build Human Capital through service to others. Clark and his wife, Teresa Smith, reside in Phoenix, Ariz., with their four children, Kourteney, Russell Jr., Tristan and Keynon.
"I am very pleased that Russell has been selected as an inductee into UNCP's Athletic Hall of Fame," said Clark's former head coach Larry Rodgers. He represents the true student-athlete role model that has dedicated his talents and abilities to help others. He is a father, a coach and a servant leader in his community. Russell Clark has truly been a hall of famer, both in athletics and in life."
Little, a two-time all-Peach Belt Conference selection, a two-time PBC Player of the Week and a member of the 1996 All-PBC Tournament team, led the Black and Gold to a cumulative 32-28-4 overall record, while also leading the Braves to the PBC Tournament Championship game for the first time in 1996. Currently, Little ranks second in career assists (23), third in single season assists (11 in 1997), fifth in career goals (29) and fifth in single season goals (13 in 1999).
"It is a great honor and I am very proud to be selected to the UNC Pembroke Athletic Hall of Fame," Little said. "UNCP has had so many great student athletes selected to the hall of fame and it is very humbling. I had a wonderful experience at UNCP, made many friends for life and was given great guidance from my coach and staff.
A Swindon, England native graduated from UNCP in 2000 with his bachelor's degree in history, and went on to earn his masters in physical education from UNCP in 2002. Little played and started in 58 games for the Braves and notched eight game- winning goals. He led UNCP to its first ever national ranking in 1998, and after serving as team captain for two years was named UNCP Most Outstanding Player in his final season.
After serving as assistant coach for the Braves for two seasons (2000-01), Little accepted the position of head coach at Cumberland and led the Patriots to 32 wins and a No. 20 ranking in the final 2004 NAIA national poll. His 2004 squad posted the highest tournament finish in school history with a runner-up finish in NAIA Region XI.
Since his time at Cumberland, he has also served as the head coach for the North Carolina Olympic Development Program where he guided the organization to its first two national titles. Little has served stints as the Director of Coaching for the Greensboro Youth Soccer Association, assistant coach for the Carolina Dynamo PDL Team in 2008 and head coach of NC Fusion U16 U.S. Developmental Academy. He currently is an assistant coach at Elon.
While with the Phoenix coaching staff, he has helped the squad to an 8-6-5 record including victories over Old Dominion and Clemson, as well as draws with nationally-ranked Duke and West Virginia. The squad boasts six all-conference honorees, including the 2011 Southern Conference Player of the Year, while two players earned NSCAA All-South Region distinction and three players also claimed NSCAA All-South Region academic honors.
Little and his wife, Kara-Lyn, a former UNCP volleyball player, have two children, Lennon and Ewan, and currently reside in Greensboro.
"Chris combined great skill with tremendous knowledge of the game both as a player on the field for four years, and then for the next two years as assistant coach," said Little's former head coach Mike Schaeffer. "I could entrust any aspect of the program to him with complete confidence. He is a most-deserving hall of famer and I will be honored to be a part of the induction of my player, colleague and friend."
Clark and Little will be inducted into the distinguished listing of former athletes, coaches and administrators at a special ceremony on October 26 at 5:30 p.m. in the University Center Annex.
